Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask the Minister his view on the potential pending strike by railway workers in Iarnród Éireann, who are currently balloting for strike action. I want the Minister's view on this because it has been well-flagged that Iarnród Éireann has been under serious financial strain. Since 2014 the company has been down €160 million; last year there were problems again and it had to go looking for extra funding. The Minister has on his desk a report saying that Irish Rail should be reimbursed approximately €125 million to compensate for the funding shortfall from 2010 to 2016. The Minister has had this report on his desk since January. Why has he not intervened to prevent the company from using this debt as a means to avoid paying the wages pursued?

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